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JUST GOD’S GRACE (Five Solas: Warriors code for Christ)

If you are like-minded, come alongside and we’ll travel together. If you’re of another mind, please get out of the way. For it is written: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3, KJV)”

Grant Swart

God placed in my path the accompanying short article, which I found in a magazine at an overnight lodge on my regular travels around South Africa. In the article, the author, Pastor Paul Walker of the Elm Avenue Baptist Church in Colorado, describes the very personal grief he experienced due to the loss of a beloved grandchild.

What sets the article apart from most others of this nature, is the statement it also makes regarding the positive effect which such pain and hurt can, and more importantly should have, on the truly saved. The short piece is a moving and powerful testimony to the strength and focus which is provided to us through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. It illustrates so clearly, the great work of sanctification which is done in the believer by our loving Teacher and Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

From the final paragraphs of the article, the following words cannot but tearfully bring a softening of the heart and a hardening of one’s resolve to follow Christ Jesus, no matter how high the mountains, deep the ravines or cold the windswept plains which are placed in the Christian’s lonely walk in this life:

“I will no longer fret about hurting feelings. Whether or not this hurts some is of no great consequence. I must obey my God, not “the tyranny of the urgent”… If you are like-minded, come alongside and we’ll travel together. If you’re of another mind, please get out of the way. For it is written: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3, KJV)”

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

Five Solas: Warrior’s Code For Christ

Recently we suffered the loss of our first grandson (second grandchild), Isaac, after 8 days here on earth. Any who have lost a child truly understand the depth of this grief.

This has also been a time of renewal in my own life. In times like these as God winnows away the chaff, the Master makes clear what He regards as important. My temporal happiness is not of great importance to Him, but holiness is. As a result, I’m letting all of you know that I’ve been working on a list of what is important to me and, I believe, to my God.

It’s a very short list. The list of the unimportant is growing longer very quickly. I find that my short list reflects the list of the great Reformers.

2. Solus Christus(Christ alone). Translation: Salvation is in Christ alone, the Christ of Scripture. No social gospel, no works based “servant evangelism”, just the genuine Jesus of the Bible, period.

3. Sola fide(Faith alone). Translation: I’m not interested in methodologies, only the one given by Christ, “go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”

4. Sola gratia (Grace alone). Translation: Salvation is only by His grace, not new-age meditation, not purpose-driven works, not numbers based strategies. Just God’s grace.

5. Soli Deo gloria(For God’s glory alone) Translation: Don’t bother me with politics, church or secular. If you want to wield authority, if you want to “build the kingdom”, if you want to play church, if you want to discuss modern culture, I’m simply not interested because God’s Word is timeless and unaffected by all these things. He will establish His kingdom and it is not of this earth. And all things exist solely for His glory.

From now on, all that matters to me is in the preceding list. My decisions will be based on whether any issue is compatible with these. I will no longer waste time worrying about numbers, whatever is being counted, whether money, members, success, or whatever.

I will no longer fret about hurting feelings. Whether or not this hurts some is of no great consequence. I must obey my God, not “the tyranny of the urgent”. I have heard a higher call and I must follow Christ Jesus, our Great Shepherd.

If you are like-minded, come alongside and we’ll travel together. If you’re of another mind, please get out of the way. For it is written: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3, KJV)

Paul Walker is a very dear friend of mine; in fact, we became acquainted right around the time the death of his grandchild took place several years ago. Is one of the dearest saints in the body of Christ, and the Lord is still refining him, now through the very serious ailments of his wife, Becky. Since they have always lived so far away from us, miles and miles while we are here in Alabama, and miles and miles and miles, when we ministered in bush Alaska, the times spent with Paul and Becky have been eternally precious, and every time I speak with this dear brother on the phone, I am always overjoyed in Christ’s bounty.

Thank you for sharing and bringing the people mentioned in the article and the readers who are touched by it, closer together. It makes it even more meaningful as the boundaries which surround the family of believers take on real proportions – it does much in reassuring one’s faith in the Body. My prayers will certainly include Paul and Becky and their family. Blessings and Grace to all you kindest people.

This is Truly a powerful word from the Lord! Thank you for sharing this. There are surely many in the body of Christ that NEED this message. It was exactly what I needed to read today! Thanks Pual and thanks guys for this blog. Blessings!

Thank you for reading it and commenting. It is powerful and at first glance seemed to be a little superficial, but boy let me tell you, once I read it properly a second time, the value of the real life story, the lessons therein and the edifying choices described, shone brightly from the words. Blessings to you also!

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Ephesians 2:8-9

Amplified Bible (AMP)
8For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved ([a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
9Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]

Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9)

Salvation is not a system of doctrine, a religious creed, or a reformation of life. Salvation is a Person; and that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Wherever true faith is found, there is gospel knowledge and spiritual understanding.
This man, Simeon, had a clear knowledge of the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is important. Blessed are those who are thus taught of God (Isaiah 54:11-14; John 6:45). Faith in Christ is not a leap in the dark. It is confidence based upon the revelation of God. It is the result of being taught of God. It is obvious Simeon knew that God has an elect people in every race, Jew and Gentile, who are the true Israel of God. He understood that all men and women by nature are engulfed in great spiritual darkness. But he also knew that the Lord Jesus Christ, the very baby he held in his arms, is the Light of the world and the glory of God, the glory of the Triune God, the revelation of the glory of God and the glory of his people (Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31). Simeon knew that the Lord Jesus Christ is himself God’s salvation. ~ Don Fortner

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Discovering Christ In All The Scriptures BY Don Fortner

Verses from Proverbs

“A wrathful man stirreth up strife” (Proverbs 15:18).

“He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends” (Proverbs 17:9).

“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife” (Proverbs 26:20-21).

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Discovering Christ In All The Scriptures BY Don Fortner

“Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.” (Isaiah 1:9) The Apostle Paul tells us that among the fallen, depraved, lost, condemned ruins of humanity “there is a remnant according to the election of grace” […]

I was given the links to these two short video clips, by a friend and and sister in Jesus Christ. This one of the best biblical explanations concerning the place and role of the woman in the church and as a Christian wife and mother. I thought it good enough to share with you all. […]

“A Prophetess” Luke 2:36 God almighty is never put in a bind. He is never compelled by circumstances to change his mind, or alter his purpose. With regard to the salvation of his elect, God’s purpose is crystal clear. There is a multitude of sinners in this world, scattered through all the nations of the […]

“Backbiters” Romans 1:28-32 I cannot imagine any crime against another person which is more cowardly, despicable, and inexcusable than slander and gossip – backbiting. While such behavior is common and expected among the reprobate, there is no place for it in the kingdom of God. Many who look down their noses with scorn upon […]

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:42 ) That which separates the truth from a mere religion is that the truth concerns a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. This may seem a trite and worn out phrase, but it is true […]

Pastor Fortner’s Devotional Discovering Christ Day by Day New Pocketsize Edition From GO Publications This is a beautiful soft-bound tan/brown edition designed to slip in a purse or jacket pocket. It includes a place marking ribbon and a gift presentation page. “Go through the whole Bible in a year with a daily […]

Matthew 5:47 Let it be clearly established that we who believe are justified by grace alone, in Christ alone, through faith alone,without the works of the law.The Lord Jesus Christ earned and obtained justification for all his people by his obedience to God as our Representative and by his sin-atoning death as our […]

Tom Hill “Who first coined the saying ‘A camel is a horse designed by a committee’? I don’t know, but I expect it was the same person who said ‘An elephant is a mouse designed to government specifications’.” (1) This bit of trivia induces laughter. However, French philosopher Jean Baudrillard (1929-2007) applied this saying to […]

Text: Romans 1:1-7, 16-17 Subject: Paul’s Definition of the Gospel Date: Sunday Morning – April 23 , 2000 (The Audio is dated 2/2/2014 ) Tape # V-79a Reading: Romans 1:1-17 Introduction: Should you go to the street corner of any city in this country and ask those who passed by, or stand upon the doorsteps of almost […]

Test your John Calvin knowledge! The quiz is only 10 questions long, and since you’re such a Calvin scholar, it should take you no time at all.

The love of the truth

"They perish because they did not receive the love of
the truth, that they might be saved." 2 Thess. 2:10
There is a receiving of 'the truth', and a receiving of
'the love of the truth'. These two things widely differ.
To receive the truth will not necessarily save; for many
who receive the truth, never receive 'the love of the truth'.
Professors by thousands receive the truth into their
judgment, and adopt the plan of salvation as their creed;
but are neither saved nor sanctified thereby. But to receive
'the love of the truth' by Jesus being made sweet and
precious to the soul, is to receive salvation itself.
"Yes, He is very precious to you who believe." 1 Peter 2:7
J. C. Philpot, "The Valley of Achor" 1861

Pastor Don Fortner’s “Zingers”

Pastor Fortner addresses some subject or thought very briefly in each bulletin. Those which he authored are contained in the document below. While we believe them to be "quotable quotes" and worthy of posting to any refrigerator, some of us have given them another name. If you will allow, we call them "Zingers."

September 8, 2013
Even when His providence brings great pain and sorrow, our heavenly Father’s eye is ever watching over us to do us good.

September 1, 2013
Faithful preachers faithfully preach the Gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ all the time, and preach it in such clear and distinct terms that no one can mistake their doctrine.

August 25, 2013
Any preacher who tells you how you can make yourself more righteous than Christ has made you knows nothing of the righteousness of God and the Gospel of the grace of God.

August 18, 2013
No greater blasphemy ever spewed from the pit of hell than the blasphemous assertion that Christ died to redeem the multitudes who there suffer the wrath of God.

August 11, 2013
False prophets are hirelings who care not for the sheep. Faithful men are true shepherds who care not for themselves.

More Zingers by pastor Don Fortner

April 5, 2015
Let us ever seek grace to live by the rule of the gospel we preach, honoring God in all things; but do not imagine that you can preach the gospel by the way you live. — You can only preach the gospel by declaring it.

March 29, 2015
The world did not see Christ in Christ and did not see holiness in the Holy One, but crucified him as a vile and wicked man. Don’t ever imagine that the world will see Christ or holiness in you.

March 22, 2015
Don’t ever attempt to show the world that you are a Christian, or that you are righteous, or that you are godly, or even that you are different from others. Lost people cannot see godliness.

March 15, 2015
The works by which Abraham and Rahab showed their faith (James 2:21-25) were works seen by no one except God. Even so, the works by which we show our faith are works seen by God alone. Others may benefit from them, but God alone sees them, and sees them as works of faith.

March 8, 2015
Show your faith by your works, as God the Holy Ghost teaches us to do (James 2:18); but don’t ever attempt show your faith to men. They can’t see it.

March 1, 2015
Let us seek grace to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present evil world, to live as sinners saved by the grace of God, to live for God and to the glory of God; but let us never attempt to show the world that we are Christians. The show of religion our Savior expressly forbids (Matthew 6:5-18).

February 22, 2015
God declares things to be what they are manifestly made to be before he makes them to be what he makes them to be (Romans 4:17).

February 8, 2015
God enriches his saints by poverty, strengthens them by weakness, makes them healthy by sickness, and lifts them up by abasing them.

February 1, 2015
The beginning and end of the faithful pastor’s work is to know Christ and to make him known. To that great work God’s servant must give himself entirely, and delights to do so.